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Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Tina Lewis Clinton has been sentenced to 30 months in jail on one count of embezzlement and five counts of filing false tax returns.
US Attorney Bill Nettles announced her sentence Tuesday.
During the course of her employment as a bookkeeper at J.F. Hawkins Nursing home in Newberry, she embezzled almost half a million dollars from 2005-2009, according to the U.S. attorney.
As part of her responsibility as a bookkeeper, Clinton made deposits for residents receiving Social Security and Veteran benefits. Nettles says Clinton cashed the checks and diverted the funds for her personal use.
She was able to cover her theft by making accounting adjustments to the residents' accounts, according to law enforcement. She also failed to report the stolen income on her tax returns, and has an additional tax due owing over $65,000.
The U.S. Attorney added that no resident of the nursing home lost money as a result of the embezzlement because the loss was covered by a bonding company.
The court has ordered Clinton to make full restitution of the loss to the bonding company and to the IRS. To date Clinton has made a $15,000 payment.
She was fired from her position as bookkeeper upon discovery of her theft according to law enforcement.